 | It's funny watching the EU trying to act tough. |
STRASBOURG, France - Syria risks harming relations with the EU if it does not commit itself to respecting LebanonÂ’s sovereignty, helping to disarm Hezbollah and supporting wider Middle East peace efforts, the EU warned on Wednesday.
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU presidency, said he hoped Damascus would play a positive role on de-escalating tensions in the region. He said it was crucialÂ’ that Syria, a neighbor to both Lebanon and Israel, support United Nations-led reconstruction and peace efforts in Lebanon. 'We need to be ready to engage Syria,Â’ Tuomioja said during a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
He added that it was SyriaÂ’s choice whether to play the role of a constructive partner or a spoiler; this will also determine the future EU relations with Syria.Â’
| That has Baby Assad shaking in his shoes. |
Tuomioja last month described EU-Syria relations as quite cool and distantÂ’ already, and stressed that the 25-nation bloc expected Syria to comply with UN resolutions.
Last week Syria said it would step up border patrols and work with the Lebanese army to stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah. Tuomioja said the EU welcomed the stated intention and readiness of SyriaÂ’ to respect UN resolutions on Lebanon and also to be constructive in the comprehensive Middle East peace process.Â’
| Assad and the generals are laughing as to how gullible the Y'urp-peons are ... |
Ties between the EU and Syria have been on ice after last yearÂ’s assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri _ a killing many Lebanese blame on Syria. The EU also recently criticized human rights violations by SyriaÂ’s government against activists there.
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